Mechanical pencil



9. 1940- R. s'. DORFMAN IECHANICAL PENCIL I mum Filed Jan. 10. 939

INVENTOR f Robe/#1301 man. 1 I

Patented Oct. 29, 1940 PATENT OFFICE:

MECHANICAL PENCIL I Robert s. Dorfman, Brooklyn, N. 12.

Application January 10, 1939, Serial No. 250,147 Renewed April 2, 1940 13 Claims. (01. 120-22) This invention relates to mechanical pencils and has for one of its objects the provision of a pencil of this character having a compartmented outer casing, housing or magazine for storing a plurality of leads of diverse hardness or color, together with means for selecting any of the aforesaid leads and, positioning same for use.

Another object of the invention is the pro-- vision of such a pencil having means for guiding the lead into writing position in a slotted central tube, means for gripping same, and means for guiding the lead back into its compartment when the lead is released.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for blocking the slot in the central tube when occupied by a lead to facilitate the selection of the leads without breakage and to prevent any of the other leads from trying to enter the central tube when so occupied.

. characters are used to describe corresponding parts throughout the several views, and then finally pointed out andspecifically defined and indicated in the appended claims,

The disclosure made the basis of exemplifying the present inventive concept suggests a practical embodiment thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure, and the latter, therefore, is to be understood from an illustrative, rather than a re strictive standpoint.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustration, is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a pencil embodying my improvements; Fig.2 is a. fragmental sectional view taken on line 22, Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a fragmental side elevation'of the central or selector tube also showing the blocking tube therein;

Fig. 4 is a disassembled perspective view of the pencil;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the selector tube;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the blocking tube; and

Fig. 8 is a. perspective view of the pencil grade indicating collar.

I Referring now, to the drawing in detail, Ill indicates an outer housing, casing, or. magazine, having a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves or compartments II for, housing or storing lengths or sticks of lead I2. Fitting into the upper end of thehousing I2 is a cylinder I3 provided with an annular shoulder or flange I4 upon which rests a collar I5, the outer surface of which is covered by a transparent collar I6. The said collar I6 is in frictional engagement with the collar I5 and is removable therefrom, the collar I5' having a-tight fit with respect to the cylinder l3.

Centrally located within the large bore I3a of the cylinder I3 is a detent or clutch member I'I having a central bore I8, the said clutch member I'I being held against rotation by means of a pin I9 which extends into a hole in the bottom fluted wall 2I of the cylinder I3. A selecting tube 22- extends'upwardly from the housing III into the cylinder I3 through a bore 23 smaller in diameter than the bore I3a, the said tube also passes through the bore I8 in the clutch member Il. S lidably mounted upon the upper end of the tube 22 and superposed over the clutch member I1 is a second clutch member 24 having a tongue dered into the selector tube 22. The stud 28 is further provided with a lower reduced portion 3I which is driven into the upper end of a blocking tube 32v which is rotatable within the selector tube 22. I

A shell 'or cap 33 is provided at the -t\ of the pencil and has secured thereto a tubular member 34 having a cross slot 35 to straddle a pin 36 driven through a pair of oppositely disposed holes 31 in the upper end of the tube 22, the said pin acting as a stop fora washer 38 against which the upper end of a spiral compression spring 39, the lower endof the said spring exerting a tension against the clutch member 241:0 maintain the said clutch member in operative engagement with the clutch member I1.

Secured to the bottom of tube 22 is a slotted gripping member '40 which due to the upward The selecting tube 22 is provided with a longitudinal slot 45 to permit passage of the leads [2 into and out of the said tube, and the tube 32 is also provided with a longitudinal slot or cutout 46 having one longitudinal edge 41 parallel to the edges of the slot 45, the other edge 48 being only parallel to the slot 41 for a portion of its length, the balance 49 thereof ta'pering downwardly to within a short distance of the bottom of the tube.

The operation of the device in loading the pencil, is as follows:

' First, the cap 33 is rotated, until the pointer or arrow-like configuration 50 is brought into alinement with a graduation or line 5| on the collar IS in the center of the area bearing the color'or degree of hardness corresponding to the color or hardness of the lead to be inserted; The

pencil is then grasped in one handand inverted and pressure is applied to the cap 33 with the thumb causing vertical sliding movement between the housing IO and lower sleeve 42 with respect to the cap 33 to release the grip 40 to permit the springlike jaws of the said grip to open up to permit of the insertion of the lead. Simultaneously with .the said action, the tongue 25 of the clutch member 24 through its engagement with the groove 21 in the stud 28 which is secured in the upper end of the tube 32 rotates same to bring the slot 46 therein into alinement with the slot 45 to permit the lead to pass out of the said tubes. In its downward movement the leading end of the lead will strike the bevelled or tapered end 53 of a plug 54 to guide the said lead into its intended groove II in the housing, the initial rotationoi the cap 33 having brought the slot 45 into alinement with said groove. Upon the release of the cap 33 the tube 32 will be rotated back again into its normal position by the action of the cam groove 21 and clutch tongue 25. During the said return movement of the tube 42, the tapering edge 48 will tend to aid in rolling the lead out of the tubes into the magazine groove. This action .is repeated until the magazine is fully loaded.

To select the lead desired for use the cap 33 is rotated so that the pointer N is in line with the required line II on the sleeve II to bring the slot 45 into alinement with the magazine groove I I in which the said lead is housed. During the above rotary movement oi the cap 33,

the tube 22 which iscarred thereby will also rotate and carry with it the clutch member 24 which will ride up-and down upon the tube :2

against the tension of the spring 3!. With the cap "in adjusted position, it is pressed downwardly to bring the slot fl'into alinement. with the slot 4|, so that the pencilfljmay slide oi! the inclined surface 8 of the housinl 9 which it rests, into the interior of the tube. 32 to be Ir pped by the jaws of the grip r", said Jaws being opened by the pressure exerted up the cap.

From the foregoing it willbe seen that I have provided a simple yet emcient selective mechanical pencil adapted for use by draughtsmen,

artists, bookkeepers and the like, the said-pencil having a or housing for compactly storing a plurality of leads of various colors and degrees of hardness which may be selected for use as desired by a simple rotating and pressure anp vi s ope i n- 5 Having described my invention, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i. A pencil oi the nature described comprising a'housing having a plurality oi longitudinal lead storing grooves, -a longitudinal rotatable tube 10 centrally located with respect to the grooves, the said tube having a longitudinal lead admitting slot in the wall thereof, a split gripping member at the bottom of said tube, a gripper sleeve on the housing for engagement with the gripper, a 16 spring for normally maintaining the sleeve and 2. A pencil oi the nature described compris- 25 ing. a housing having a plurality of longitudinal lead storing grooves, a longitudinal rotatable tube centrally located with respect to the grooves, the said tube having a longitudinal lead admitting slot in the wall thereof, a split gripping member at I the bottom of said tube, a gripper sleeve on the housing for engagement with the gripper, a spring for normally maintaining the sleeve and gripper in leadgripping engagement, means carried at the top of the tube for selectively bringing the slot in the tube into radial alinement with any of the said grooves, said means comprising a stationary, clutch member, a clutch member slidable on the said tube and normally in clutching engagement with the stationary clutch member, the said slidable clutch being under the influence of the spring, and a cap secured to the top oi the tube by which it may be rotated for the aiorementioned selective alinement.

8. A pencil of the nature described comprising a housing having a plurality of longitudinal lead storing gi ooves, a longitudinal rotatable tube centrally located'with respect to the grooves, the said tube having a longitudinal lead admitting slot'in the wall thereof, a split gripping member at the bottom of said tube, a gripper sleeve on the housing for engagement'with the gripper, a spring ior normally maintaining the sleeve and gripper in lead gripping engagement, means carried at the top' of the tube for selectively bringing the slot in the tube into'radial alinement with any of the said grooves, said means comprising a stationary clutch member, a clutch member slidable on the said tube and normally in clutching engagement with thestationary clutch member, the said slidable clutch being under the influence or the spring, a cap secured to the top 4. A pencil oi the nature described comprising 19 a housing having a plurality of longitudinal lead storinggrooves, a longitudinal rotatable tube centrally located with. respect to the grooves, the said tube having a longitudinal lead admitting slot in the wall thereof, a split gripping member jg under the influence of the spring, a cap secured to the top of the tube by whichit may be rotated for the aforementioned selective alinement, a second slotted tube in the interior of the first mentioned tube for normally blocking the entrance slot in the first mentioned tube, a stud having a spiral groove in its peripheral surface secured to the second tube, and a tongue on the slidable clutch member in engagement with the said spiral groove for rotating the said second tube to bring the slot therein into alinement with the slot in the first mentioned tube to permit passage of a lead to and from the said tubes.

5. A pencil of the nature described comprising a housing having a plurality of longitudinal lead storing grooves, means for selecting and "receiving a lead from one of said grooves, means for blocking the receiving means after selecting a lead, means for guiding the selected lead into writing position, and means for gripping said lead in writing position.

. .6. Apencil of the nature described comprisinga: housing having a plurality of longitudinal lead storing grooves, means for selectin and receiving a lead from one of said grooves, means for blocking the receiving means after selecting a lead, means for guiding the selected lead into writing position, means for gripping said lead in writing position, and means for guiding the lead back into the storinggroove.

'7. A pencil ofthe nature described comprising i a housing having a plurality of longitudinal lead storing grooves, a longitudinal rotatable lead selecting tube centrally located with respect to the grooves, the said tube having a longitudinal lead admitting slot, means for blocking the said lead admitting slot after a lead has been-selected,

means for guiding the lead into writing position, and means for gripping the lead in writing position. a 1

8. A pencil of the nature described comprising a housing having a plurality of longitudinal lead,

storing grooves, a longitudinal rotatable lead selecting tube centrally located with respect-to the grooves, the said tube having a longitudinal lead admitting slot, means for blocking the said lead admitting slot after a lead has been selected,

- means for guiding the lead into writing position,

means for gripping the lead in writing position, and means for guiding the lead into its storing groove when the gripping means is released and the pencil is inverted. I

9. A pencil of the nature described comprising a housing having a plurality of longitudinal lead into writing position, and means for gripping the lead in writing position.

10. A pencil of the nature described comprising a housing having a plurality of longitudinal lead storing grooves, a longitudinal rotatable lead selecting tube centrally located withrespect to the grooves, the said tube having a longitudinal lead admitting. slot, means for rotating the said tube into lead selecting position, spring pressed detent means for releasably maintaining same in rotated position, a second longitudinally slotted tube rotatably mounted within the selector tube for blockingthe slot in the selector tube, means for bringing the second tube into and out of blocking position, means for guiding the lead into writing position, and means for gripping the lead in writing position. I 11. A pencil of the nature described comprising a housing having a plurality of longitudinal lead storing grooves, a cylinder at the top of the housing, said cylinder having a'pair of concentric bores therein, one larger than the other, a rotatable tube passing through-the housing and extending into and above the cylinder, the said tube having a longitudinal lead admitting slot inter mediate its ends and a second longitudinal slot above the first slot, a second tube rotatable withsaid means comprising a lower stationary toothed clutch member loosely surrounding the first mentioned tube, an upper toothed clutch member slidable on the first tube normallyin engagement.

with the stationary clutch member, a spirally, grooved stud at the upper end of the second tube, a tongue on the slidable clutch member extending into the said spiral groove through the upper slot in the first tube, a cap secured to the said first tube, a spring exerting a tension between the said cap and upper clutch member, a

split lead gripper at the bottom of the first tube,

and a sleeve for normally engaging the said gripper to maintain same in gripping engagement with the lead.

12. A pencil of the nature described comprising ,a housing having a plurality of longitudinal lead storing grooves, a cylinder at the top of the housing, said cylinder having a pair of concentric bores therein, one larger than the other, a rotatable tube passing through the housing and extending into and above the cylinder, the said tube having a longitudinal lead admitting slot intermediate its ends and a second longitudinal slot above the first slot, a second tube rotatable within the first tube and provided with alead admitting slot, means for bringing the lead admitting slots into and out of alinement with each other, said means comprising a lower stationary toothed clutch member loosely surrounding the first men a tongue on the slidable clutch member extending into the said spiral groove through the upper for normally engaging the said gripper to maintain same in gripping engagement with the lead,

a beveled stud in the second tube for directing the lead into the lead storing grooves, when the 1a,. A pencil oi the nature described oomprisin; a housing having a plurality of longitudinal lead storing grooves, means tor selecting and reoeiving a'lead irom one of said grooves, and means for blocking the receiving means after selectin: a lead.

' ROBERT s. Dom'wm. 

